Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-09-07

less the neat was intense, making mo feel
restless and irritable. Novel after novel
opened, and after reading a few pages
flung the book aside; and having tried for
few minutes to sleep, got up and went
to one of the windows. Drawing up tho
blind qrietly, Isaw on the veranda my lit
tie daughter Gladiz.
She was adored by nv wife and myself,
being our only child, and was about to
tap the glass ii order to attract her atten.
tion, when l noticed that she was carry
ing bowl Of what appeared to be bread
and milk, and secmcl TO be looking for
some one. At the same time saw, to my
horor, huge snake of the most venom
Gus ind--cobra--creeping from the side
OF the house along the verauda toward
her. She went slowly to meet it.
knew that it would now be- impossible
Tor me to go out or to make the slightest
sound without attracting the snakes at
tention, and then 1 shuddercd, for when
once it was alarmed the consequences
might be fearful, so had TO watch what
was going to happen in cold perspira-
tion of fear for the safety OF my child
The cobra, on reaching the child, reared
its loathsome head in the air until level
with the bowl, meanwhile dartlng its
tongue backward and forward and cast
ing fierce glances around to see il danger
was near, while it devoured the bread
and milk. GladiZ stroked its head gently
and called the reptile ''hcr pet" ''her
pretty snake"
Iwatched the food gradually disappear,
and could have cried for relief when
saw the snake had finished its meal,
which l inwardly vowel should b. its
last. 1t then crept slowly toward hole
in the side Of the house, to whica it disap-
pcarel.
rushed from the room, and, meeting
Gladz coming into the hall, picked her up
in my arms and kissed her frantically, ex-
claiming: ''Oh, Gladiz, Gladiz the
snakel" The child began to cry, knowing
thea had seen her with her pet Her
nurse, coming up to sec what was the
matter, l gave Giadiz into her charge,
and went TO find my wife, to whom l told
all that had occurred.
My wife learned from Gladlz that she
had been accustomed to feed the snake
twice day-after breakfast and during
the afternoou-for the last three months,
and often, if she thought sho was being
watched, she would leave the bowl on the
voranda, fetching it away at another time.
We, my wife and myself, arranged that
the bowl should be put in its place as
usual tomorrow morning, and that
should shoot the snake from the window
OF my room while it was eating. We also
thought it best that Gladiz should not be
told that her pet was going to be killed.
breakfast was rather hurricl next
morning for L was anxious to get this
dangerous pet killed as soon as possible
The bowl was temptingly put in its place,
as directed by Gladiz, and took up my
position with gun at the window of my
room. completely hidden from the out
sido by the Venetian blind. The child
was taken by my wife to tho nursery, as
arranged Eetween US the evening before.
All was ready now, the snake alone was
wanting.
1t did not keep me long waiting. Soon 1
saw its head appear out of the hole. The
snake looked around with its glittering
eyes, and, seeing the bowl, crawlcd out
on to the veranda and made its way to-
warI IL
1t seemed frightened; once or twice it
turned ronnd as If to return.
My time had come; the cobra was rapid
ly eating its meal ], carefully bringing
the gun 10 my shoulder, fired. The bruto
rolled over, quivcring and writing on the
ground
began to pull up the blind with the in.
tentlon OF going out and giving the cobra
the death blow, when l hoard q fc1rfu!
scream and a moment after saw Glalz
run past the wlndow-her golden hair
loose, hor dress torn-toward the wound
ed sraIe.
BvfJre l couli prevent hor she had
thrown herself on her knees before il, and
hitting its head in her hands pressed it
against hcr cheek, we ,p;ng bitterly while
sac did SO; instantly tho c)brI b1rcI its
poisonel fangs into her de!iclte flesh.
She screamed and unclaspel her hands
from around tha Saa'Ie
A cry escaped my lips as / saw what
happ ,nel, and takin Glaliz in my arms,
FRIED her indoors. All that medical
ski l could do 30 save our child was done,
but OF no avail. In less than two hours
she was dead. Years have pissed sin &C
then, but l never can forget the events Of
that fearful dav